Perpetrator's Assault was Out of Character For Him

Thursday,July21st,2011

Paragraph 13 reads: "Christopher Morgan, for Newton, said that he suffered from depression and had been taking prescribed medication which had then been mixed with alcohol making him act out of character."

SSRI Stories Note: The Physicians Desk Reference states that antidepressants can cause a craving for alcohol and can cause alcohol abuse. Also, the liver cannot metabolize the antidepressant and the alcohol simultaneously, thus leading to higher levels of both alcohol and the antidepressant in the human body.

Jail for man who attacked estranged wife with knife

A JEALOUS husband was jailed five years for attacking his estranged wife with a knife after taking a cocktail of prescribed drugs and alcohol.

Chris Newton, 42, found it hard to accept his marriage was over and, after breaking into the former family home at Ten Mile Bank, he attacked Rachel Newton.

The attack caused repeated cuts to her body and face, Norwich Crown Court heard this week.

A neighbour, who Mrs Newton phoned for help, managed to restrain Newton before he caused any further injury and an ambulance was called to the scene.

Kevin Eastwick, prosecuting, said that Mrs Newton had to be treated for a number of cuts to her body and face, and had been left with some permanent scarring, although none of the injuries were life-threatening.

In an impact statement, Mrs Newton said she thought that Newton was going to kill her and said the attack had left her feeling unsafe in her own home.

Newton admitted wounding Mrs Newton with intent on September 26, last year.

The court heard that Newton now accepted the marriage was over and had been receiving counselling.

Jailing him, Judge Alasdair Darroch told him that it was a serious matter and described the incident as “horrific”.

The judge said: “You must have known she was alone in that house. None of the injuries were life-threatening, but you have left her scarred.”

He added: “There was no excuse for this attack. She was allowed to bring the relationship to an end if she wanted to and that is no excuse for attacking her in this vicious way.”

He also made Newton subject to a restraining order under which he must keep away from Mrs Newton.

Christopher Morgan, for Newton, said that he suffered from depression and had been taking prescribed medication which had then been mixed with alcohol making him act out of character.

He said that Newton was full of remorse: “He has accepted the relationship is over, although it has been a long and painful process for him. He knows he must be punished for what he has done.”